Recent Articles
March 23, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Evidence in Capitol Attack Most Likely Supports Sedition Charges, Prosecutor Says; Preachers and Their $5,000 Sneakers: Why One Man Started an Instagram Account Showing Churches’ Wealth; Black Church Leaders in Georgia on the Importance of ‘Souls to Polls’; and more
Five Things to Listen for in “Raceless Gospel” Podcast
Starlette Thomas – a womanist in ministry – treats these five episodes as five Sundays. Each episode is structured like a church service and features different elements of a Sunday worship hour: welcome, testimony, sermon, call to discipleship, offering and benediction.
Immunity Passports, Vaccination Records and Post-Pandemic Travel
As COVID-19 vaccinations increase, some have suggested the need for immunity passports as a requirement for travel and other activities. What are these exactly? And what are the ethical implications of adopting such measures?
Why You Should View Your Words as Expressions of Love
Our speech has power to build up or tear down. We should see our language as an expression of love, making sure that our words, particularly those spoken to people in a vulnerable state, offer healing and hope.
March 22, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Biden Rescinded the ‘Muslim Ban.’ But Many Families Remain Stuck in the Backlog; Accused Atlanta Gunman’s Church Expels Him, as Local Korean Church Leaders Mourn, Call for Action; The Rioter Next Door: How the Dallas Suburbs Spawned Domestic Extremists; Church of England May Impose Black, Minority Quota for Clergy; and more.
People of Good Faith: Starlette Thomas
Starlette Thomas is a member of the Good Faith Media strategic advisory board and host of the forthcoming GFM podcast, “The Raceless Gospel.”
What Happens When I’m the Problem?
The pursuit of the so-called “American Dream” has resulted in negative impacts on marginalized groups. Being a successful American does not equate to being a good Christian.
Physician Match Day Reveals Health Residency System’s Flaws
Match Day is an annual event that matches medical school graduates with residency programs. There is a shortage of doctors in the U.S. due to a paucity of residency positions resulting, in large part, from a 1997 budget act.
March 19, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: New Report Warns of Rising Domestic Terrorism; Christian Leaders Wrestle with Atlanta Shooting Suspect’s Southern Baptist Ties; South Carolina Pastor Urges American Christians to Prepare for Civil War; Co-Chairs Commission on Historic Representations say Their Research Was Distressing; Beth Moore Shakes up Evangelical Publishing; and more
Finding Healing in My Tribe
In my ancestral language of Muscogee Creek, CVFEKNICETV (juh-fig-nay-je-duh) means “to heal someone or something.” This message greeted my wife and me as we drove up to the Muscogee Creek Hospital in Okemah, Oklahoma, to receive our COVID-19 vaccines.
White Nationalist Christianity Distorts Gospel, Perpetuates Injustice
Jesus’ message of radical solidarity with the least of these, his call for liberation from oppression, has been domesticated by white nationalistic Christianity. The white god that undergirds white supremacy is all better off dead.
Focusing on Heaven, U.S. Churches Forgot the Life of Jesus
In many congregations, “the gospel” only refers to the path to eternal salvation. A return to the biblical definition of the “Good News” is needed — one that is evidenced by Jesus through his words and deeds.
March 18, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Atlanta Massage Parlor Shooting Suspect Robert Aaron Long, a Professed Christian, Had a Passion for Guns; US Treasury Secretary Meets With Faith Leaders About Debt, COVID-19; Jesuits Pledge $100 Million for Descendants of Enslaved People the Catholic Order Once Owned; and more.
The Micro and Macro Faces of Racism
Racism must be acknowledged and addressed on both the micro and macro levels. “Favors” for a few cannot erase or replace the pursuit of equity and justice for all.
Crosses, Crucifixes and Leaving Behind “Too Catholic” Stereotypes
Fundamentalist Christians tend to view the crucifix as “too Catholic.” Yet, the image of Jesus on the cross invites us to consider how we might see God dwelling in unexpected, challenging places.
Evangelicals Aren’t Dealing Well with Grief
Grief is not something many evangelical congregations in the U.S. handle well. Half-baked appeals to the sovereignty of God and pious aphorisms often harm, rather than help, the suffering.
March 17, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: The Post-Trump Crackup of the Evangelical Community; Did You Go to Church Last Week? Might Depend on Who’s Asking; The Cohabitation Dilemma Comes for America’s Pastors; Archaeologists Discover New Dead Sea Scrolls for First Time in 60 Years; and more.
Not-So-Great Expectations, but Hopefulness
Will society acknowledge, confront and atone for white supremacy? Will churches address the “sanctuary elephants” of old exclusionary ways? There’s work to be done on the attitudes and actions of us all.
Beyond Symbolic Posturing about Eliminating Racial Discrimination
A day to acknowledge racial discrimination and hope for its end is good but not sufficient. Racism and racist policies, practices and processes must be treated as a mortal threat and eradicated.
Jim Crow, the Party of No and the Real “Cancel Culture”
Claims of “cancel culture” are voiced by those who feel their privilege and power are being diminished. However, the real “cancel culture” is seen in the legal obstructions created to hinder participation in the voting process – efforts that recall the Jim Crow era.
March 16, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: The Christian Tourism Industry is Having a Rough Year; Black Christians Discuss How Faith Informs Their Stances on Abortion; U.S. Lawmaker Suggests Gun Control Isn’t Needed Because Biblical Characters Killed Each Other Without Guns; Yoga May Return to Alabama Schools, But ‘Namaste’ Still Forbidden; and more.
What a Day It Would Be If We Did It
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity to take a firm stance on race and name it as the lie it has always been. This would take more than a day, but what a day it would be when we did it!
Appreciation Leads to Awe, Radical Amazement
A 18-wheeler transport truck with an Einstein-theme mural painted on the side.
Most U.S. Protestants Plan In-Person Attendance Post-Pandemic
A new report found that most Protestant churchgoers planning to attend in-person worship when it is safe to do so. So, clergy can mostly breathe a sigh of relief regarding post-pandemic engagement.
Latest Nurturing Faith Book Focuses on Life Together
Jeff Hampton jumped at the opportunity to write a weekly church blog post, offering up his thoughts on matters of faith. Ten years later, he’s still at it, and has collected his writings on community into a book.
Beth Moore’s Leaving Follows Path Many Have Taken
Beth Moore’s decision to leave the Southern Baptist Convention mirrors the path taken by droves of women (and men) who have walked away from a system whose foundation is built upon the oppression of many, including women.
Polio’s Eradication Offers Lessons for COVID-19 Pandemic
Most polio strains were eradicated due to international coordination and cooperation. So far, the COVID-19 response has seen far less cooperation than will be necessary to bring this novel virus under control. No single nation can solve this pandemic on its own.
Look Back | Will We Respond to Fear or Our Better Selves?
Prophetic voices we now claim as heroes once called us to abandon our prejudices and work toward a more just social order. Will we heed the voices calling us to our better selves? Or will we continue to mask our prejudices with legalities?
March 12, 2021
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: The Capitol Attack: White Supremacist Terrorism Meets Evangelical Christianity; Atlanta Churches Partner with Walgreens for Three-Day Vaccine Clinic; GOP Congressman Says Voting Rights Bill is Written ‘by the devil himself’; and more.
Voter Suppression Laws Spit on the Grave of John Lewis
John Lewis spent his life advocating for voting rights for all. Currently, legislatures across the country are working against his legacy by seeking to pass laws that will make it harder to vote. People of faith should oppose such efforts.